Hello, Autumn.
I was in hospital eight days for the first surgery, and five days for the takedown surgery. When you wake up your throat will be sore and dry. The nurses will give you ice chips but not water yet. Remember to breathe and oxygenate your blood. If you have an epidural in addition to the IV morphine pump you won't feel any pain, but be prepared that when they remove the pain management around the third day, you will feel some pain in your middle and at the incision. Your stomach muscles will be cut and you'll need help getting up. I always asked someone to crook their arm hard and I would grab hold and slowly rise. Make sure they don't relax their arm: a nursing assistant suddenly relaxed her arm and I fell back onto the bed. Don't ask. If you feel the urge to cough, and you will, brace your stomach muscles with a big book or magazine. The nurses will teach you. If they don't, ask them to show you, and really press hard when you brace. You'll see what I mean.
Are you having open surgery or laparoscopic surgery? It will make a big difference to pain management and your recovery time. Have you had your pre-admission meeting with the nurse and pain management team yet? That's when you'll learn what will happen. Go to the meeting with a list of questions and make use of their time. Before you leave the hospital after your first surgery, make sure the ostomy nurse shows you exactly how to fit the bag, how to measure it (because your stoma will change size over the next weeks) and how to ensure the seal is 100% closed all the way around so that you don't leak, which can be so upsetting the first time, and where / how to order supplies. You'll need to order ASAP when you get home because you'll go through the hospital's supplies fast (leakages, faulty seal from inexperience, etc.) and you do not want to be without supplies.
For my takedown surgery I had IV morphine but not the epidural. No food or drink allowed until you pass gas. My gas pain was very bad. Be prepared for that so that you are not surprised or worried. I was not prepared; no one told me. I hope your gas pain will not be bad. There are no meds for gas pain. When the gas pain finally passed (for me it was 15 hours), the pain stopped. Walk the halls to move the gas. As soon as you pass gas, tell your nurse. This means your bowels are awake and functioning after weeks or months of non function while you had the ostomy. Try to eat some soft protein food when they allow it. I asked for an egg salad sandwich but chicken salad or tuna salad will be okay. Chew. Carefully. You'll pass green bile for a few days so don't be worried. Maybe some old blood. You could ask for a commode be placed next to your bed in case you need it fast. Don't be embarrassed if you mess the bed after takedown. The nurses have seen it all and they are trained.
There is a recent post called "what to pack in your bag" or something like that. Search for it on this site and you'll find lots of suggestions on what to pack, what to do, what to else to expect in the hospital. The ostomy and the surgeries will save your life or restore it to some normalcy. No matter how painful, or difficult, just remember every day the pain will lessen, every day one thing will be unplugged or removed from you and you will be free, not tethered to machines. Then, next thing you know you'll be going home! Happy new year.